beeez



J. BER EZ.

FIRE ESGAPB.

(No Mod'elJ Patented Oct. 27,1996

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BEREZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,151, dated October 27, 1896.

Application filed April 1, 1896. Serial No. 585,707. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BEREZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fire-escapes and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a fire-escape which may be located in or below the window-casing in such a manner as to be concealed from view and ever ready for use or operation; second, such a fire-escape by means of which one or more persons can be lowered from any height in a safe and secure manner, and, third, to provide a fire-escape in which the unwinding of the suspending-cord may be regulated, so as to lower the person or persons with any degree of rapidity desired.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a window-casing, showing my fire-escape located therein and illustrating by dotted lines the position of the hinged top in order to permit of access to the escape. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device, showin g it removed from the window-casin g. Fig. 3 is an end view, partly in section, showing the controlling-disk and spring-actuated cam projections. Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of a portion of one end of the drum on which the suspending-cord is wound, its lockingcam, and a releasing dog or detent; and Fig. 5 is a similar View of a portion of a controlling-disk which is secured near the opposite end of the shaft on which the drum is mounted and an eccentric lever employed to force a spring in contact therewith.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents the main frame, which may be of any suitable size, form, and material, but preferably rectangular in shape, and is designed to be located just below the window A and in the casing A thereof. The frame A is provided with a hinged cover a, which may be placed in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings when it is desired to reach and use the escape.

J ournaled in the main frame is a shaft B, upon which is mounted a spool-shaped drum C, on which is secured and wound a cord or cable 0 of any suitable dimensions and material, which is provided at its free end with a snap-hook C and near said end with a ring C with which the hook is designed to engage in order to secure the cord or cable around the body of the person who desires to use the escape. On one end of the drum C is formed or secured a cam C used for regulating the movement of the drum, andon the end of the main frame A near said cam is pivotally secured a dog or detent D, which carries in its free end a roller (1, which is designed to contact with the cam 0 and to prevent the revolution of the drum, as is apparent by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which figure the detent is illustrated by continuous lines in engagement with the cam and by broken lines as being disconnected therefrom and held out of engagement therewith by means of the plummet or plumb-bob D, which is secured to the dog or detent D by means of a cord d.

On the opposite end of the shaft B from that on which the cam is located is secured a controlling-disk F, which is provided around its periphery with recesses f, to engage a spring or pawl g, which is secured at one of its ends to the side of the main frame A and extends inwardly, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. This spring or pawl g is adjustably held in contact with the periphery of the disk F by means of an eccentric lever G, which is fulcrumed on a cross-piece g of the main frame, and is provided with a pivoted pawl g to engage a ratchet-bar g secured on the main frame, so that the eccentric lever may be raised when it is desired to increase the pressure of the pawl or spring g on the disk F or lowered when it is necessary to diminish said pressure. The outer surface ICO of the disk F is provided with a series of rounded or semicircular lugs or projections F, which are located near the periphery of the disk and at suitable distances apart and are designed to engage the cam-shaped projections H and H, which are secured and project oppositely on the vertical bar H or rod, which has its bearings in the top and bottom of the main frame, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Connected to each of these cam-shaped projections is a spring I, which is secured at its other end to atie-bolt 2', secured in the upper and lower part of the main frame.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen and clearly understood that by placing a portion of the cord or cable 0 around the body and engaging the hook C with the ring (J the person will be securely attached to the cord or cable on the drum, when by raising the dog or detent D, by means of the cord (1, on which is secured the plumb-bob I), and dropping the latter outside of the casing, the drum will be free to revolve and to allow the cord or cable wound thereon to unwind therefrom, thus lowering the person in a gradual and safe manner. It is obvious that in the revolution of the drum the controlling-disk F, carrying the projections F, will revolve therewith, and said projections will contact with the cam projections ll and II, which are actuated by means of the springs l, as above set forth, which operation will prevent the too rap-id revolution of the drum, as is apparent.

If it is desired to suspend more than one person on the cable or cord, or if the weight thereon is very great, the revolution of the drum may be regulated by means of the eccentric lever G, which may be raised so as to force the spring or pawl g firmly into contact with the recessed periphery of the controlling-disk F, which, as before stated, is mounted on the main shaft.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with the main frame A, of the shaft 13, journaled therein, the drum 0, mounted on said shaft, the cord or cable a, secured at one of its ends to the drum, the locking-cam G on one end of the drum, the dog D, pivoted on the main frame and having the roller (Z, to contact with the cam O, the controlling-disk F, having in its periphery the recesses f, and on its outer surface the rounded projections F, the spring-actuated cam projections 11, and II, secured 011 the pivoted bar H and adapted to engage the projections F, all constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described.

JOHN BEREZ.

Vitnesses:

CHAS. O. TILLMAN, I. W. ELFENBEIN. 

